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Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX500 IS

Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
41
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot SX170 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Key Specs

Canon SX170 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-448mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 251g - 108 x 71 x 44mm
  • Announced August 2013
  • Replaced the Canon SX160 IS
Canon SX500 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
  • 341g - 104 x 70 x 80mm
  • Released August 2012
  • Updated by Canon SX510 HS
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Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Overview

Here, we are evaluating the Canon SX170 IS versus Canon SX500 IS, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and both are offered by Canon. The resolution of the SX170 IS (16MP) and the SX500 IS (16MP) is very comparable and both cameras offer the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SX170 IS was introduced 13 months after the SX500 IS making them a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short introduction of how the SX170 IS scores versus the SX500 IS with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX170 IS over the Canon SX500 IS

 SX170 IS SX500 IS 
ReleasedAugust 2013August 2012More modern by 13 months

Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Canon SX170 IS

 SX500 IS SX170 IS 
Display resolution461k230kClearer display (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX170 IS and Canon SX500 IS

 SX170 IS SX500 IS 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display measurement
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera, you will have to factor in its weight and volume. The Canon SX170 IS features external dimensions of 108mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") along with a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Canon SX500 IS has sizing of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") along with a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs).

Check out the Canon SX170 IS versus Canon SX500 IS in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are working with during that time. Here is a front view size comparison of the SX170 IS and the SX500 IS.

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX500 IS size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the SX170 IS and SX500 IS is 88 and 80 respectively.

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX500 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Sensor Comparison

Often, its difficult to picture the gap in sensor sizes only by checking out specs. The pic underneath might give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the SX170 IS and SX500 IS.

All in all, the 2 cameras come with the identical sensor size and the exact same megapixels therefore you can expect comparable quality of pictures but you should always consider the age of the cameras into account. The fresher SX170 IS provides a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX500 IS sensor size comparison

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Portrait photography advice
Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography advice
44
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
supports face detection autofocus
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
46
you can focus manually
great flash sync speed (1/1,600s)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
features face detect focus
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Street photography highlights
Canon SX500 IS Street photography highlights
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (251 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX170 IS as a Sports photography camera
Canon SX500 IS as a Sports photography camera
48
great zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
44
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
features tracking focus
slow fps (1.0 frames/s)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery (195 CIPA)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Travel photography features
Canon SX500 IS Travel photography features
68
lighter than competitors in class (251g)
good MP (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
great reach (448mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
59
good resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
no Time Lapse recording
not so great battery (195 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX170 IS
Landscape photography with Canon SX500 IS
49
has manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Time Lapse mode
46
you can focus manually
relatively wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
not so great battery (195 CIPA)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX170 IS Vlogging highlights
Canon SX500 IS Vlogging highlights
31
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
lighter than competitors in class (251 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic jack
28
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic socket
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Canon SX170 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX170 IS and Canon SX500 IS
 Canon PowerShot SX170 ISCanon PowerShot SX500 IS
General Information
Company Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot SX170 IS Canon PowerShot SX500 IS
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2013-08-22 2012-08-21
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 Digic 4
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 1
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-448mm (16.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/3.4-5.8
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 461k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT Color LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 15 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.00 m 5.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/1600 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 251g (0.55 pounds) 341g (0.75 pounds)
Physical dimensions 108 x 71 x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 195 pictures
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6LH NB-6L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail cost $0 $299